–Francis Scott Key
Lord, with glowing heart I’d praise thee
For the bliss they love bestows,
For the pardoning grace that saves me,
And the peace that from it flows.
Help, O God! my weak endeavor,
This dull soul to rapture raise;
Thou must light the flame, or never
Can my love be warmed to praise.
Lord! this bosom’s ardent feeling
Vainly would my lips express;
Low before thy foot-stool kneeling
Deign thy suppliant’s prayer to bless.
Let thy grace, my soul’s chief treasure,
Love’s pure flame within me raise;
And, since words can never measure,
Let my life show forth they praise.
Posted in Poem | Tagged Christian Poem, Devotional Poem, Francis Scott Key, Praise for God |
There is a reason Genesis is called the book of beginnings. We are now in the 4th chapter of Genesis and still finding firsts.
verse 1 – First record of intercourse (“Adam knew Eve”)
verse 1 – First record of conception
verse 3 – First record of an offering to the LORD
verse 4 – First record of God respecting an offering
verse 5 – First record of God not respecting an offering (first time we find “unacceptable” worship)
verse 8 – First recorded murder/fratricide
verse 16 – First time someone is described as going “out from the presence of the LORD.”
verse 17 – First record of a city being built
verse 19 – First recorded incidence of bigamy
verse 21 – First record of music/musical instruments
verse 21 – First record of craftsmen working in bronze and iron.
verse 26 – First record of men calling on the name of the LORD.
Posted in Bible, Genesis, Old Testament | Tagged Beginnings in Genesis, Firsts in Genesis, Genesis 4 |
All hail, Thou noble Guest, this morn,
Whose love did not the sinner scorn;
In my distress Thou com’st to me;
What thanks shall I return to Thee?
Were earth a thousand times as fair,
Beset with gold and jewels rare,
She yet were far too poor to be,
A narrow cradle, Lord, for Thee.
Ah dearest Jesus, Holy Child,
Make Thee a bed, soft, undefiled,
Within my heart, that it may be
A quiet chamber kept for Thee.
–Martin Luther, Translated by A.T.Russell and C. Winkworth
Posted in Poem | Tagged All Hail Thou Noble Guest, Christian Poetry, Devotional Poetry, Martin Luther |
“Give me one hundred preachers who fear nothing but sin and desire nothing but God, and I care not a straw whether they be clergymen or laymen; such alone will shake the gates of hell and set up the kingdom of heaven on earth.”
–John Wesley
Posted in John Wesley, Preaching | Tagged Effective Preaching Ministry, John Wesley, Preaching, Shaking the Gates of Hell |
Across the will of nature
Leads on the path of God;
Not where the flesh delighteth
The feet of Jesus trod.
Oh Jesus, Thy care is not to make
The desert a waste no more,
But to keep our feet, lest we miss the track
Where Thy feet went before.
–Amy Carmichael, Candles in the Dark
Posted in Amy Carmichael, Poem | Tagged Amy Carmichael, Candles in the Dark, Christian Poem, Devotional Poem |
If Jesus truly had the words of eternal life as Peter said in John 6:68, why wouldn’t everyone who heard His words accept the message of the gospel?
The answer is found in John 3, right after the well-known proclamation of God’s love for man in John 3:16, we read this:
And this is the condemnation, that the light has come into the world, and men loved darkness rather than light, because their deeds were evil. For everyone practicing evil hates the light and does not come to the light, lest his deeds should be exposed. John 3:19-20
Is your love for your sin keeping you from accepting the free gift of salvation? Are you clinging to the darkness, hiding from the light, so you can continue to engage in your sin?
Don’t be deceived, Light is coming. He will expose you for who you are and your evil deeds will be known by all. Repent and turn from your sin and allow the Light of the World to flood the darkness of your soul. Today is the day of Salvation!
Posted in Gospels, John, Light, New Testament | Tagged John 3, Light, men love darkness, New Testament, Why doesn't everyone get saved who hears the gospel |
I know my heart has prayed this prayer . . .
Prayer for Song
Mend my broken mood,
Maker of Life and Song,
Lest this interlude
Of silence be too long.
Call my soul awake,
Set my heart aflame!
Singing fire will make
Ash of sloth and shame.
Touch my lips with song,
Wing my words with good.
Shepherd of things gone wrong,
Mend my broken mood.
—Fay Lewis Noble
Posted in Poem, Prayer | Tagged Christian Poems, Devotional Poem, Fay Lewis Noble, Poetry |
As we mentioned in 2 previous posts, the book of Genesis, is a book of origins or beginnings. We found many origins or “firsts” in Chapters 1 and 2, but there are more to be found in Chapter 3:
First misrepresentation of God’s word (by Satan verse 1)
First sin (violation of God’s clear command)
First invitation to another to sin (Eve gives Adam to eat)
First religious act (cover themselves to approach God)
First time nakedness becomes an issue
First time man hid from God
First time fear is mentioned
First time a husband blames a wife for his sin
First time a wife blames the devil for her sin
First curse on an animal
First curse on a person
First curse on the ground
First mention of childbirth
First time Eve’s name is mentioned
First animal sacrifice (verse 21 – God made skins to cover them)
First mention of leaving the garden
First mention of eternal life
First mention of Adam working the land to eat (farming)
First mention of Cherubim
Posted in Bible, Genesis, Old Testament | Tagged Firsts in Genesis, Genesis, Genesis 3 |
Arise, my soul, arise;
Shake off thy guilty fears;
The bleeding Sacrifice
In my behalf appears:
Before the throne my Surety stands,
My name is written on His hands.
My God is reconciled;
His pardoning voice I hear:
He owns me for His child;
I can no longer fear:
With confidence I now draw nigh,
And “Father, Abba, Father,” cry.
—Charles Wesley
Posted in God, Poem | Tagged Charles Wesley, Christian Poem, Poem about God |
My God, shall sin its power maintain
And in my soul defiant live!
“Tis not enough that Thou forgive,
The cross must rise and self be slain.
O God of love, Thy power disclose:
“Tis not enough that Christ should rise,
I, too, must seek the brightening skies,
And rise from death, as Christ arose.
Posted in God, hymns, Poem | Tagged Christian Poem, Greek Hymn, Poem about God |
Rooted and Grounded 